July 2015 Emails
So I got really carried away with responding to people today. Sorry this is going to be a short email.
Met a really cool family that i 7th Day advantists. This is really hard becasue they have the bible memorized! For real! But after the first lesson the mother told us that normally they do not open their house to missionaries because they are taught that in church because they do not want members of their church to change religions. but I taught them about the Holy Ghost and my companion said that she almost cried and that the mother did too. Which is weird because I do not remember what I said.
We have another solid Investigator and he is the boyfriend of a recent convert. He is so excited to learn and I think that he will get batized soon! AND hopefully after a year they can go to the temple! AHH! I am so happy! he has a cool name too. Henrique! Henrique and Fabia! They are so cute together. But I am SO TRUNKY when I teach them! haha someday :)
One of the members in the ward, Duiji, served his mission in Colorado and we went over to his house and ate American food! BEST food I have eaten here yet! Hamburgers and apple pie! the pie was in the shape of the American Flag! it was legit! I have pictures!
I bought a new skirt! I LOVE it but I don't want to wear it because I want it to last until I go home! I LOVE THIS SKIRT! And it actually has a funny story. All of the missionaries in my house saw it and wanted it. I saw it first with my companion and showed it to her. And she was like ´´i am going to buy that skirt´´ But I SAW IT FIRST! But I was the only one with money so I bought it 2 days later and I dont think she was very happy about it, but It is a BEAUTIFUL SKIRT! And then I showed it to Sister Hernandez and she was going to buy it in the next couple of days! haha! its a beauty! I am glad that I did not wait too much longer. It would have been gone! :)
And our water is back! is was silly. somehow the water switch that is on our roof was shut off. Soooo... dont know how that happened. But that happened....we got it back on now :) AND I AM CLEAN AGAIN...well as clean as I can be in Brazil. I cannot wait for a shower in my own home!
And we had a party with a 3-year-old! It was his birthday and his mom is a recent convert! João! He is so cute! And next awesome thing is that I got my eyebrows done. But here they do not wax which is weird. But she did them by hand with tweezers. it hurt really bad but hey, Grandma B would be proud of me that I actually did it :) Or at least I hope she is :P HAHA! And on top of that a recent convert in my ward gave me some BRIGHT pink lipstick! So I will take a picture and add it to my next week email! BATOM ROSA!
Miss you all! Love Ya!
Sister Thomson
Met a really cool family that i 7th Day advantists. This is really hard becasue they have the bible memorized! For real! But after the first lesson the mother told us that normally they do not open their house to missionaries because they are taught that in church because they do not want members of their church to change religions. but I taught them about the Holy Ghost and my companion said that she almost cried and that the mother did too. Which is weird because I do not remember what I said.
We have another solid Investigator and he is the boyfriend of a recent convert. He is so excited to learn and I think that he will get batized soon! AND hopefully after a year they can go to the temple! AHH! I am so happy! he has a cool name too. Henrique! Henrique and Fabia! They are so cute together. But I am SO TRUNKY when I teach them! haha someday :)
One of the members in the ward, Duiji, served his mission in Colorado and we went over to his house and ate American food! BEST food I have eaten here yet! Hamburgers and apple pie! the pie was in the shape of the American Flag! it was legit! I have pictures!
I bought a new skirt! I LOVE it but I don't want to wear it because I want it to last until I go home! I LOVE THIS SKIRT! And it actually has a funny story. All of the missionaries in my house saw it and wanted it. I saw it first with my companion and showed it to her. And she was like ´´i am going to buy that skirt´´ But I SAW IT FIRST! But I was the only one with money so I bought it 2 days later and I dont think she was very happy about it, but It is a BEAUTIFUL SKIRT! And then I showed it to Sister Hernandez and she was going to buy it in the next couple of days! haha! its a beauty! I am glad that I did not wait too much longer. It would have been gone! :)
And our water is back! is was silly. somehow the water switch that is on our roof was shut off. Soooo... dont know how that happened. But that happened....we got it back on now :) AND I AM CLEAN AGAIN...well as clean as I can be in Brazil. I cannot wait for a shower in my own home!
And we had a party with a 3-year-old! It was his birthday and his mom is a recent convert! João! He is so cute! And next awesome thing is that I got my eyebrows done. But here they do not wax which is weird. But she did them by hand with tweezers. it hurt really bad but hey, Grandma B would be proud of me that I actually did it :) Or at least I hope she is :P HAHA! And on top of that a recent convert in my ward gave me some BRIGHT pink lipstick! So I will take a picture and add it to my next week email! BATOM ROSA!
Miss you all! Love Ya!
Sister Thomson
july 13 2015
So this week we had A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN! But I just want to start out with a story that started a couple of weeks ago. And thank you for all of your prayers. So Irmão Fransisco (I don't remember the code name) But he is the one whose daughters ran away. We had a family night at his house and his sons were home. But there is more. In the middle of the Spiritual thought both of his daughters returned home as well. They are safe and home. Thank you so much for all of your prayers! This is more or less what happened. They ran away. But did not have enough money. So they were on the bus where the girls went missing. But then they got half way to natal and got kicked off because they didn't have money. Which was a great blessing. And then somehow they made it to their moms house (because their parents are divorced) But did not talk to their dad. Until Thursday night, they showed up at their dad's house. ( they ran away about a month ago So this was the first time in a month that he had seen his daughters) I almost cried. The oldest of his daughters is the same age as my youngest sister Sammie.
This morning we climbed a rock with the cross on the top. It was really high but TOTALLY worth it. Just the elders and me and sister Hernandez climbed to the top. There was one moment when I was trying to get down when I was not touching any rock. I was just holding the hand of elder Ifran. He thankfully helped me and Sister Hernandez get down :) AND I have pictures as proof! It was legal! I want to do it again someday!
Another weird thing that I heard on the radio cars was this church was requiring people to pay 110 reais to be baptized! WHAT! NO WAY! Freak! I think that is crazy!
And FINALLY! I just want to give the BIGGEST SHOUT OUT TO THE....da da da da! THE BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD! NEVADA LAS VEGAS! Don't get me wrong I love Brazil! But the last week I have really missed my mission in NEVADA LAS VEGAS! (Even my companion misses that mission and she has never even been to the US let alone Las Vegas Mission) But This is why I miss Las Vegas!
1. PRESIDENT AND SISTER SNOW! President Snow would ALWAYS RESPOND to my emails. And If I had a question it was answered if not on P-Day it was answered by Tuesday! And Sister Snow was so close! I could talk to her and there was one day when she took our zone out to lunch! SO AWESOME!
2. I had the BEST TRAINER IN THE WORLD! I learned so much from Sister Morceli! She is literally the best there is! MISS HER!
3. Our Zone Leaders and District leaders are full of love and invested in LASTING CONVERSION! (This is really important! Don't ever change this!)
4. The Nevada LAs Vegas Mission is ORGANIZED! Down to the maps and the areas!
5. BECAUSE I LOVE LAS VEGAS! THE PEOPLE ARE AWESOME!
There is my little shout out! Just remember this! I will return many times to LAs Vegas! Brazil também, but Las Vegas is easier!
Love you all!
XOXO
Sister Thomson
This morning we climbed a rock with the cross on the top. It was really high but TOTALLY worth it. Just the elders and me and sister Hernandez climbed to the top. There was one moment when I was trying to get down when I was not touching any rock. I was just holding the hand of elder Ifran. He thankfully helped me and Sister Hernandez get down :) AND I have pictures as proof! It was legal! I want to do it again someday!
Another weird thing that I heard on the radio cars was this church was requiring people to pay 110 reais to be baptized! WHAT! NO WAY! Freak! I think that is crazy!
And FINALLY! I just want to give the BIGGEST SHOUT OUT TO THE....da da da da! THE BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD! NEVADA LAS VEGAS! Don't get me wrong I love Brazil! But the last week I have really missed my mission in NEVADA LAS VEGAS! (Even my companion misses that mission and she has never even been to the US let alone Las Vegas Mission) But This is why I miss Las Vegas!
1. PRESIDENT AND SISTER SNOW! President Snow would ALWAYS RESPOND to my emails. And If I had a question it was answered if not on P-Day it was answered by Tuesday! And Sister Snow was so close! I could talk to her and there was one day when she took our zone out to lunch! SO AWESOME!
2. I had the BEST TRAINER IN THE WORLD! I learned so much from Sister Morceli! She is literally the best there is! MISS HER!
3. Our Zone Leaders and District leaders are full of love and invested in LASTING CONVERSION! (This is really important! Don't ever change this!)
4. The Nevada LAs Vegas Mission is ORGANIZED! Down to the maps and the areas!
5. BECAUSE I LOVE LAS VEGAS! THE PEOPLE ARE AWESOME!
There is my little shout out! Just remember this! I will return many times to LAs Vegas! Brazil também, but Las Vegas is easier!
Love you all!
XOXO
Sister Thomson
July 20 2015
Gee, I think this week went on forever! BUT we had 3 baptisms this week and the Elders in the same Ramo had one. Fui bom. Rosinede and her family. She is awesome. And has a great story. Kind of. So last Saturday like 7 pm me and sister Castillo were looking for people to come to church. We needed I think 2 more. But had no one so we were inviting people right and left. or some reason this is the hardest part. Getting people to come to church. But we saw Rosinede outside a house with her baby Marcos and we stopped and talked to her. I don't remember what we talked about, but I remember we asked for her address and she said she lived really far away and that it would be hard to find her. Well, the next morning we found her and picked her up for church. It was great. Her daughter and both ber sons came too. Then over the week we taught her the lessons and she had a date to be baptized with her children. Then Saturday we went over to her house to fill out some papers for their baptisms and Rosinede was super stressed because Marcos her 1 1/2-year-old was in the hospital 2 times the night before vomiting and they did tests, but no one knew what was wrong. HE was screaming and crying while we were there. We offered to call the elders to give him a blessing, but she said no. So we told her we could come back later that night to do the papers so she could take care of Marcos. When we came back he was no better. He was making sounds like there was something in his throat, but I checked (so greatful for my lifeguard training) But there was nothing. So we called the elders. Elder Mauter and Elder Ifran. The came over and when they put their hands on Marcos´ head the hands of elder mauter engulfed the head of marcos. And he cried during the blessing and until the elders left. But after he was fine. He was a different baby. and the next morning during the baptisms he was just fine. I have a stronger testimony in the power of priestood blessings! I know that Satin was working hard with this family. But I am so greatful that we can call upon our elders to excesize the Authority given to them to bless the lives of people here. There is a scripture in 2nd Nephi. More or less it says God is the same yesterday today and forever. But he only works miracles umong the children of men according to thier faith. I know that because of the faith of those two elders. The faith of Rosinede and her family. And the faith of me and Sister Castilho Marcos is better. I am so greatful for this!
Other than this BIG event in my week most everything was normal. I made chocolate chip cookies (coulpa de meu pai) And they actually turned out great. Until the last batch. I put it in around 11:30 pm. I know fubeca, but I needed to cook them for Rosinede and her families baptism. Then I squatted on the floor because I am a germaphobe here. And then fell asleep. I woke up at 1:03 and opened the oven, then shut it and turned off the oven and went to bed. Here is a picture of what happened....haha! BUT I made some good cookies! :D And now I am going to bribe the elders to carry a box of Book of Mormons from their house to our house and I will give them the rest of the cookies :D WHOOT WHOOT! LOVE MY ELDERS!
Woke up this morning sick. But I know it will get better. always does. I know what everyone (Brady) meant by he got sick a lot. And also what Brother Dance meant by you just get used to the blood marked on your sheets from the mosquitos. Things are just becoming normal. Which I don't know if it is good. But for right now it is.
Also NEVER in my life thought I would be cold in Brazil. But I have been FREEZING these last couple of days. it has been cold.
LOVE YOU ALL! MISS YOU A TON!
Until next week!
Sister Thomson
Other than this BIG event in my week most everything was normal. I made chocolate chip cookies (coulpa de meu pai) And they actually turned out great. Until the last batch. I put it in around 11:30 pm. I know fubeca, but I needed to cook them for Rosinede and her families baptism. Then I squatted on the floor because I am a germaphobe here. And then fell asleep. I woke up at 1:03 and opened the oven, then shut it and turned off the oven and went to bed. Here is a picture of what happened....haha! BUT I made some good cookies! :D And now I am going to bribe the elders to carry a box of Book of Mormons from their house to our house and I will give them the rest of the cookies :D WHOOT WHOOT! LOVE MY ELDERS!
Woke up this morning sick. But I know it will get better. always does. I know what everyone (Brady) meant by he got sick a lot. And also what Brother Dance meant by you just get used to the blood marked on your sheets from the mosquitos. Things are just becoming normal. Which I don't know if it is good. But for right now it is.
Also NEVER in my life thought I would be cold in Brazil. But I have been FREEZING these last couple of days. it has been cold.
LOVE YOU ALL! MISS YOU A TON!
Until next week!
Sister Thomson
July 27 2015
Wow. This is already the last week in July! Where has the time gone?
This week was not really exciting. I actually dont know what happened to this week. It started off with last weeks p-day. And somehow we made it here. I think it is because there is a big party going on here in Curris Novos. For the whole week we had loud music in the street and fireworks going off until 5 in the morning. Right next to our apartment. So we did not get ANY SLEEP this week.
But we made a record in Natal history with baptisms in the interior. We had 145 baptisms this month. And I am praying every day that they will remain firm in the gospel!
I dont have pictures this week because Last tuesday Elder Balaich broke my camera. He dropped it and I am looking for a place that will fix camera but no one in this city will. But I will keep looking. Until them I have no camera......FREAK :(
We went on exchanges this last week and I met this man who was REALLY DRUNK! REALLY! But he recognized us and invited us to come back to his house and teach him. But since he was drunk we let the sisters of that area return the next day. And when the returned they told me about this man. He had a daughter that died not too long ago. And she was a member. A firm member. Went to church everyday and everything. But then she died. And her family is super open to the gospel! How great is that? ONe more. We were walking on the street. Me and sister castilho. Then a man came up and started talking to us about how long we have been in the city and things like that. Then we invited him to come to church and he asked if we could come meet his family. Since they dont live in our area we gave the referal to the sisters and BAM they are elect! Married for real! Family! Looking for that something that we have for them! :D
Love being a missionary! I will never give this up for anything in my life!
Love you all so much!
Sister Thomson
This week was not really exciting. I actually dont know what happened to this week. It started off with last weeks p-day. And somehow we made it here. I think it is because there is a big party going on here in Curris Novos. For the whole week we had loud music in the street and fireworks going off until 5 in the morning. Right next to our apartment. So we did not get ANY SLEEP this week.
But we made a record in Natal history with baptisms in the interior. We had 145 baptisms this month. And I am praying every day that they will remain firm in the gospel!
I dont have pictures this week because Last tuesday Elder Balaich broke my camera. He dropped it and I am looking for a place that will fix camera but no one in this city will. But I will keep looking. Until them I have no camera......FREAK :(
We went on exchanges this last week and I met this man who was REALLY DRUNK! REALLY! But he recognized us and invited us to come back to his house and teach him. But since he was drunk we let the sisters of that area return the next day. And when the returned they told me about this man. He had a daughter that died not too long ago. And she was a member. A firm member. Went to church everyday and everything. But then she died. And her family is super open to the gospel! How great is that? ONe more. We were walking on the street. Me and sister castilho. Then a man came up and started talking to us about how long we have been in the city and things like that. Then we invited him to come to church and he asked if we could come meet his family. Since they dont live in our area we gave the referal to the sisters and BAM they are elect! Married for real! Family! Looking for that something that we have for them! :D
Love being a missionary! I will never give this up for anything in my life!
Love you all so much!
Sister Thomson